Oak and Finn Responses

Ryan Mottram
FNED 346
Mrs. McKamey
11/25/18

Tracking: Why Schools Need to Take Another Route 

By: Jeannie Oakes

Quotes:

"Heterogeneous groups of students will probably do best in classrooms where the curriculum content is challenging, complex, related to real life and-most of all- rich meaning."

I have heard that it is best for students to be placed where they will be challenged and need to work for the A, but not where they will be overwhelmed.  There are those in high level courses who look down on those in below levels and say that they could be higher also if they just weren't lazy and worked harder, which is partly true and partly false.  For example, there are students who excel in reading/writing course subjects and struggle with math/science courses like me.  Tracking in schools needs to be applied to the placement system properly without having subjects grouped together with others that cause the system to be random and make no sense, which is unfortunately common in some secondary schools. 

"If students of all abilities are to benefit from being taught together, classrooms will probably need to be organized far differently, providing a diversity of tasks and interactions with few "public" comparisons of students' ability."

Students with various abilities and disabilities being placed in the same classroom for subjects does not sound beneficial, but rather chaotic.  Certain students can have pier mentors in average level courses, but those with more serious learning disabilities should be put in separate classrooms so teachers who specialize in that field can work with them through close interactions and appeal to their needs.  Although it may not be best if every student in a school is taught together due to various disabilities, this does not mean they cannot have social interactions with each other through schoolwide activities and other events.  

"One fact about tracking is unequivocal: tracking leads to substantial differences in the day-to-day learning experiences students have at school."

Tracking may be necessary in schools today due to there being students with learning disabilities and in special education, average learners, and then the ones who naturally have above average intelligence.  However, it should be implemented in such a way so that students who mentally and/or physically cannot excel in their subjects as well as other students will not get made fun of or condescended towards, because unfortunately this does happen.  There are certainly students who do not care about their work, do not try, and as a result do not deserve to be in higher level courses, but we also need to keep in mind the special education students and students with minor learning disabilities and satisfy their needs.   

Comment/Point to Share:

I believe a class discussion about whether or not we think tracking and students being taught together or separately to suit individual learning needs would be beneficial for us as future teachers.   

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-JcBFAuLc-0RjNSSW1ueTNfRTA/view